Posted on Mar 12, 2016
How does the Army National Guard promotion system work?
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I just re-enlisted into the National Guard yesterday from the Army Reserve. I'm reclassing from 74D to 11B. The problem I encountered in the Reserve was sitting on the promotable list for months on end after my packet was approved without getting a slot. I've been in since 2009 and feel like I'm way behind my peers. Would it be hard to put in for promotion ASAP since I'm brand new to my unit?
Infantry
Reclass
Promotions
NCOs
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 7
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A. You won't be putting in for promotion ASAP. Just doesn't work that way.
B. The Guard do promotions boards once a year. You put a packet in, it goes in front of a board, then you come out on a promotion list. Depending on what you select for mileage and if any vacancies open within the mileage you select, and where you are on the list will determine if you get offered a slot for promotion.
C. In the Guard there has to be a vacant NCO slot for a Soldier to get offered a promotion.
B. The Guard do promotions boards once a year. You put a packet in, it goes in front of a board, then you come out on a promotion list. Depending on what you select for mileage and if any vacancies open within the mileage you select, and where you are on the list will determine if you get offered a slot for promotion.
C. In the Guard there has to be a vacant NCO slot for a Soldier to get offered a promotion.
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SGT (Join to see)
Thank you for your response, Sergeant. I hope I didn't come off as arrogant when I mentioned putting in for a promotion ASAP. I'm just itching to make up for a lot of lost time.
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In the Reserve I found it was very helpful to have more than one MOS. You could look for a unit's open slots and apply for promotion to those slots, If I remember right you had three choices on a Reserve promotion packet - and it didn't matter what State.
Guard, State does matter. Also I've found homesteading was more present in Guard units. Don't know if it's changed now.
Guard, State does matter. Also I've found homesteading was more present in Guard units. Don't know if it's changed now.
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MAJ (Join to see)
SGM Mikel Dawson-Your advice on this thread is really good. Being new to RP, it is great to see rankers passing on experience to enquiring minds. Back in my day, I worked with RC (2 INF AIT tng Companies)20th SFG(A)when an ROTC MSIII instructor, Ranger advisor, Orienteering Coach.
AL NG Eng unit built UNA s rappel tower. Taught them some patrolling and Ranger skills. Ran an orienteering contest for local Commo Bn. The Bn Cdr was my faculty advisor, so I was glad to help and his NCOs got to do recruiting pitches on my MSIVs. One guy who went Signal Corps told me he had 1/2 a mind to go Infantry, because that was all it took. Therapeutic was checking my sense of humor. My career kept going from there with NG interaction. I did recruit 3 NCOs to active duty SF. One went on from SFC to CW3. I did turn down a terminal assignment to SF unit in Michigan, only benefit was jumpster course. Instead went back to VA and played Drill Major to 900 fledgling JAGs. Skill level 3 trainer. I taught them they knew or learned the law but NCOs know the Army and that it would really pay to listen. 151 went to jump school. SPC Saad Rajabali- Hang in there STUD, America needs you. Keep you head up and hard work is eventually rewarded!
AL NG Eng unit built UNA s rappel tower. Taught them some patrolling and Ranger skills. Ran an orienteering contest for local Commo Bn. The Bn Cdr was my faculty advisor, so I was glad to help and his NCOs got to do recruiting pitches on my MSIVs. One guy who went Signal Corps told me he had 1/2 a mind to go Infantry, because that was all it took. Therapeutic was checking my sense of humor. My career kept going from there with NG interaction. I did recruit 3 NCOs to active duty SF. One went on from SFC to CW3. I did turn down a terminal assignment to SF unit in Michigan, only benefit was jumpster course. Instead went back to VA and played Drill Major to 900 fledgling JAGs. Skill level 3 trainer. I taught them they knew or learned the law but NCOs know the Army and that it would really pay to listen. 151 went to jump school. SPC Saad Rajabali- Hang in there STUD, America needs you. Keep you head up and hard work is eventually rewarded!
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MAJ (Join to see)
SGM Dawson. Spell check changed dipstick to Therapeutic. I thought I had edited myself, but the ebook munchkins did me in, again! I checking your profile out comrade.
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SGM Mikel Dawson
SGT (Join to see) - Before you pull pitch, go talk with the Tng unit. Find out if they got a position. I know once you finish DS tng, you will be promoted to SGT, if not before. If there's a position, get the Par/Line number, unit and such, go back to your unit and talk to your 1SG/CDR. I've yet to find a unit that wouldn't consider the soldiers also, unless they are in line for deployment.
Just remember no one cares more about your career than you do. Take charge of it and drive on.
Just remember no one cares more about your career than you do. Take charge of it and drive on.
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SGT (Join to see)
I'll definitely do that. Wouldn't hurt to pick up another MOS and then make up for lost time doing that route. Three years should fly by.
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Google NGABS. National Guard Automated Board System. Pretty detailed info on how the Guard does promotions.
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Not sure, I thought the guard worked in a similar manner as reserves but could be wrong. Sad to see a fellow chemical soldier leave though
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SGT (Join to see)
Appreciate the response, SSG. It really does suck. I have tons of CBRN schools under my belt but it's extremely hard for some reason since it's such a low-density MOS, especially since there's only one E-5 billet per company.
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Our promotions in the ARNG are a little more biased b cause everyone in the state knows each other. The AD component always assumes it's easier, when in fact, it is harder to be promoted especially if you are new! Cronyism is alive and well. Evaluations are the key to success.
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11B in the guard may be hard to pick up your 5 depending on the State and slot availability. I know someone who is an E6 now, but he had to transfer over to a Trans unit as an 88M. He was 11B for 10 years without picking up his 5 because there were no slots. SFC Springman has a lot of good points to make. Board is once a year and it's a paper board so it's all about history and experience, how you look in your uniform and whether or not you know every bit of Infantry history doesn't matter at all because the board never even sees you. If you say no to an offer, you're ineligible for the rest of the EPS cycle. When you put your packet it, it's for one specific MOS, so look around and see what has a lot of openings.
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